Smallthoughts:Old School Tuesday …Morten Anderson

Kickers usually don’t get enough credit and they are hardly ever recognized until they miss a game winning field (Scott Norwood) yet Morten Anderson was among the very best. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1982…He is the all-time leader in games played in the NFL at 382; in addition, he also holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different rival teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he spent a combined eight seasons. Following is the list of acheivements of Morten Anderson …

NFL records

At the end of his career Andersen held the following NFL records (As of 2009):

• Most games played (career) – 382^[19]
• Most consecutive games played by a placekicker – 248
• Most field goals attempted (career) – 709^[20]
• Most field goals (career) – 565^[21]
• Most points (career) – 2,544^[22]
• Most seasons, 75 or more points (career) – 24^[23]
• Most consecutive seasons, 75 or more points (career) – 23
• Most seasons, 90 or more points (career) – 22^[24]
• Most game winning field goals (career) – 103
• Games with 1+ field goals (career) – 299^[25]
• Games with 2+ field goals (career) – 178^[26]
• Oldest player to score 14 points in a game – 47 years, 133 days (for Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks, December 30, 2007)^[27]
• Oldest player to kick 4 field goals in a game – 47 years, 42 days (for Atlanta Falcons vs. Houston Texans, September 30, 2007)^[28]
• Oldest player to kick 5 field goals in a game – 46 years, 43 days^[29]
• Most field goals (50 or more yards) in a game – 3 (vs. New Orleans, December 10, 1995) (tied with several players)
• Most consecutive games scoring (career) – 360
• Most games scoring (career) – 379
• Most consecutive seasons scoring (career) – 23 – tied with Gary Anderson
• Most consecutive calendar years scoring (career) – 26

Team Scoring Records:

• New Orleans Saints- 1,318 points
• Atlanta Falcons – 806 points

(One of two players to have held career statistical franchise record for two NFL teams)

• New Orleans Saints – FGs made/attempted: 302/389
• Atlanta Falcons – FGs made/attempted: 184/224
• New Orleans Saints – PATs made/attempted: 412/418
• Atlanta Falcons – PATs made/attempted: 254/256

Pro Bowl records:

• Most points in Pro Bowl (total) – 45 (15 points after touchdown, 10 field goals)
• Most points after touchdown in Pro Bowl (total) – 15
• Most field goal attempts in Pro Bowl (total) – 18
• Most field goals in Pro Bowl (total) – 10

Andersen holds 2nd place in the following NFL records:

• Most PATs attempted (career) – 859 (1st place: George Blanda, 959)
• Most PATs made (career) – 849 (1st place: George Blanda, 943)
• Most seasons – 25 (1st place: George Blanda, 26)
• Most seasons, 100 or more points – 14 (1st place: Jason Elam, 16)^[30]
• Most games with 5 or more field goals (career) – 9 (John Carney, 11)

 

Career history
New Orleans Saints (1982–1994) Atlanta Falcons (1995–2000) New York Giants (2001) Kansas City Chiefs (2002–2003) Minnesota Vikings (2004) Atlanta Falcons (2006–2007)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-American (1981) 7× Pro Bowl (1985–1988, 1990, 1992, 1995) 6× First-team All-Pro (1985–1988, 1992, 1995) 2× Golden Toe Award (1986, 1995) NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame 2011 New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame 2009 Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame 2013 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2011 NFL records 2,544 points scored, career 565 field goals made, career 709 field goals attempted, career 382 games played
Career NFL statistics
Field goals: 565/709 (.797) Extra points: 849/859 (.988) Points scored: 2,544